What is Abhidhamma practice?
When you practice Buddha Abhidhamma you can analyse the mind in detail and correctly describe the functions of the citta and the cetasika which constitute the mind.
Buddha Abhidhamma explains the co-relations between the various factors of mind and matter in the form of the Law of Dependent Origination.
With Abhidhamma practice you will be able to understand all aspects of the Middle Path, and you can purify your mind from defilements by developing mental concentration.
Dr. Mehm Tin Mon explains that "Abhidhamma pin-points the mind, analyses and characterises the mind, describes the functions of the mind and puts the mind in its proper place. The true ability of every person lies in his [or her] mind.
"Abhidhamma tells about matter in relation to the mind. It also describes nibbana which is free from mind and matter (Mon, 1995: p. 8).
Cittena niyate loko.
The citta (consciousness) rules over all the world.
Why does chanting work?
Chanting works because it alters the practitioner's mind. When you chant correctly, you can enter the various jhanas. With chanting, you can experience jhana citta. These are wholesome citta.
How do Abhidhamma and chanting relate?
There are five jhana sotapatti magga citta:
vitakka, vicara, piti, sukh'ekkagata sahitam pathamajjhana sotapatti-magga cittam
Vicara, piti, sukh'ekaggata sahitam dutayahhana sotapatti-magga cittam
Piti, sukh'ekaggata sahitam tatiyajjhana sotapatti-magga cittam
Sukh'ekaggata sahitam catutthajjhana sotapatti-magga cittam
Upekkh'ekaggata sahitam pañcamajjhana sotapatti-magga cittam
Meanings
The first jhana sotapatti path-consciousness together with initial application, sustained application, joy, bliss and one-pointedness.
The second jhana sotapatti path-consciousness together with sustained application, joy, bliss and one-pointedness.
The third jhana sotapatti path-consciousness together with joy, bliss and one-pointedness.
The fourth jhana sotapatti path-consciousness together with bliss and one-pointedness.
The fifth jhana sotapatti path-consciousness together with equanimity and one-pointedness.
The five sakadagami path-consciousness, the five anagami path-consciousness and the five arahatta path-consciousness are named similarly.
There are 67 jhana citta.
The 27 mahaggata citta are known as the lokiya jhana citta. Combining these with the 40 lokuttara citta we get 67 jhana citta.
Among these, there are 11 first jhana citta, 11 second jhana citta, 11 third jhana citta, 11 fourth jhana citta, and 23 fifth jhana citta. (These can be counted form the Chart No. 1 in Dr. Mehm Tin Mon's book).
Note that there are 3 first jhana citta in the mahaggata citta and 8 first jhana citta in the lokuttara citta; together they make up 11 first jhana citta. The second, the third and the fourth jhana citta are counted in the same way. In counting the fifth jhana citta, all the 12 arupavacara citta are included in the count - thus we get 11 + 12 = 23 fifth jhana citta.
With chanting, these jhanas can be experienced.
For today's Abhidhamma class, we will watch a video of the 'Rite of Bestowing Alms Food' Puja. It was conducted by the Venerable Master Ru-Sun at the Yun Yang Temple on Sunday 24 August 2003 from 3pm to 7pm.
We are preparing for the Earth Store Bodhisattva Puja on Sunday 31 August 2003. The puja will be guided by the Venerable Master Ru-Sun at the Yun Yang Temple. This puja will be held in a similar way to the 'Rite of Bestowing Alms Food' Puja recorded on the video. Participants will be supplied with a headset at the Temple. A translator will provide an English translation and guidance via the headset for non-Chinese speaking participants. This will enable everybody to do the chanting.
At 8 pm on August 24, 2003, Julian Bamford and Leanne Eames met with Master Ru-Sun at the request of Master Ru-Sun.
The following is from notes taken by Leanne at the meeting, from directions given at the meeting by Master Ru-Sun and also information provided by Jason Tai, his attendant:
Bring money.
Master Ru-Sun gave two reasons for this.
(1) so that John will recover quickly
(2) for John's new kitchen
This is an opportunity to come with an open heart and practise dana.
Bring dry groceries to offer as dana. The Temple Kitchen will prepare 36 dishes. Some of Master Ru-Sun's followers have also been asked to bring food. The Temple will also prepare decorative fruit arrangements for the main altar at the puja, and so fruit should be taken and offered a day or so prior to the puja.
BDCU Members are friends are asked, in addition to dry groceries, to bring packets of individually wrapped sweets and snacks (such as those available at Asian groceries) which will be used as offerings in the puja.
When thanked for the kindness of Master Ru-Sun and the Temple, Jason said:
"We must do this because the affinity between our Temples is close . . . we
have been friends for a long time".
The Ullambana Ceremony is a very serious matter. It is necessary for John
Hughes because of the fluctuations in his health. Everyone MUST participate.
(Everyone should also read about the origins of this ceremony.)
John's health has already begun to improve since Master Ru-Sun told him that he would perform the Puja.
We must be sincere in order that a good result is achieved.
How good the result is, depends entirely on the sincerity of the hearts of
John's students.
The opportunity to give dana is good - give with an open heart.
Master Ru-Sun emphasized for the SECOND time:
There are two reasons for offering dana:
(1) Give sincerely and open-heartedly and John Hughes will recover more
quickly.
(2) The money is to go to John's new kitchen.
Master Ru-Sun emphasized for the THIRD time.
Offer dana sincerely and whole-heartedly.
Master Ru-Sun finished by saying:
This is a rare opportunity. Make use of it!!!
May our Teacher have good health and long life so that he continues to keep the light of Dhamma alive in the world.
Bibliography
Mon, Dr. Mehm Tin (1995), "The Essence of Buddha Abhidhamma", Publisher Mehm Tay Zar Mon, Yangon.
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